Arthur Seyss-Inquart is best known as Reich Commissioner for the occupied Netherlands. Prior to holding the function of the highest representative of the occupying forces in the Netherlands, from 1940 to 1945, he also held an important position in Austria and Poland, within the national socialistic government. In Austria, he had an important role in the unification of that country with Germany in 1938, the so called Anschluss (connection).

Throughout his career, he exerted seemingly contradictory politics. On the one hand, he was the intellectual who advocated a relatively moderate policy; on the other hand he appeared to be a fanatic national socialist, who believed that everything, church, family and an own opinion, had to give way to people, empire and FŁhrer . The intention of this very editorial is to show both faces of Seyss-Inquart, underscoring in particular the period he was active in the Netherlands.

Definitielijst

Anschluss

The joining of Austria to Germany. The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938. Austria became part of Greater Germany.

FŁhrer

German word for leader. During his reign of power Adolf Hitler was FŁhrer of Nazi Germany.